A law office with experienced attorneys for your New Jersey legal needs.
Kenneth Vercammen was the New Jersey State Bar Municipal Court Attorney of the Year and past president of the Middlesex County Municipal Prosecutors Association. Kenneth Vercammen is the author of three books published by the American Bar Association.
Internship Responsibilities:
● Making calls to courts, attorneys and clients to follow up on letters regarding cases
● Administrative: Re-routing sent letters with invalid addresses, organizing legal documents, finding closed files, emailing clients, sending faxes
● Scheduling court dates, writing hearing notices and serving as witness at will signing
● Fielding potential interns prior to interviews; working with other interns
● Editing and sharing newsletters and events on social media
● Using resources and instructions available to be self-sufficient
Listed below are the various skills and assets previous interns were able to acquire after completing their internship period:
Fifteen things I learned at this internship, by a 2017 intern, Anthony Rizzo
1) I was able to put into perspective the importance of client confidentiality
2) I learned that during a will signing, two formal witnesses must be present
3) I learned that a state certified notary must also be present at a will signing
4) I learned the benefits of adhering to instructions as it allows duties in the office.
5) I learned that a judge must make sure the defendants are well aware of their rights.
6) I learned that the court usually has an interpreter on speed dial for language barriers
7) I learned that end of case letters has to be sent to clients in order to show them we have their best interest at heart and so they can recommend us.
8) I learned that a letter of representation lets the court know what attorney will be representing what client.
9) I also learned that the letter of representation and request for discovery precedes a court date scheduling.
10) I learned that every document we send to clients we have to keep a copy for future reference
11) I learned that in Municipal courts they have one day of the week when cases are heard and they hear more than one case.
12) I learned that proper documentation helps the office to run smoothly.
13) I learned the use of the red book or lawyer’s diary: where you find attorneys and their contact information, county information, judges and so on
14) I learned that most courts use fax to send out documents and require documents to be sent by fax
15) I learned that even if I don’t plan to purse a career in criminal law, there is so much I could learn from the field.
Fifteen things I learned at this internship, by a 2023 intern, Jaqiese Anderson
1) Advanced technology skills
2) Will signing procedures
3) Expungement procedures
4) Contacting prior and potential clients
5) Learned about wills and probates
6) Posting to blogs and social media
7) Setting up files effectively for clients
8) How to send certified mail
9) How to properly train new trainees
10) Small leadership skills
11) Seminars
12) How to properly answer phone calls
14) Minor traffic ticket procedures
15) How to prepare a will
Fifteen things I learned at this internship, by a 2023 intern, Tanisha Bhatia
1) How to manage time properly when given various tasks
2) Stay in order
3) Stay calm, cool, and collected
4) Be confident
5) Speak up when needed
6) Always write things down
7) Reading directions is necessary
8) Don't be afraid to ask questions
9) Learned how to send faxes
10) Always have something to write with and a notebook when entering Mr. Vercammen's office or any other boss' office in the future
11) Learned the value of networking
12) Learned workplace culture and how an office runs - who answers calls, what the hierarchy of the office looks like, where to go when you have questions, etc.
13) Keeping a journal/notebook is great for personal growth
14) Trust my instincts
15) Communicating is key, don"t act like you understand what you're supposed to do. Make sure to communicate before doing anything you weren't supposed to do.
Fifteen things I learned at this internship, by an intern, Amanda Edwards
1) How to correspond with courts, clients, potential clients, and various other callers in a professional manner
2) How to distinguish between client filing and non-client filing
3) How to greet and successfully communicate with clients of various ages and interests
4) How to print labels using Brother QL printer and also through Microsoft mail merge process
5) The different procedures associated with mailing different types of packages at the front office. For example, how many stamps are required for larger types of mail and the approximate cost of such types of mail, etc.
6) Shredding files
7) Legal facts like what a Surrogate's court is, when inheritance tax is levied, the fact that the person must be mindful enough to consent to a Power of Attorney, the difference between a living will and a durable power of attorney, the fact that one can search up ticket records online, etc.
8) How to revise blogs and add articles to websites
9) Revising client timesheets and bill letters
10) Utilizing a system of instructions and a general index to become more independent and self-reliant. Instructions can also help one to provide better ideas to a fellow law clerk as he or she problem solves.
11) The value in teamwork and collective problem solving through reviewing fellow law clerks' work
12) Steps involved with being a witness to wills
13) How to complete a comprehensive computer Backup and a Constant Contact Backup
14) Proofreading legal documents like Wills, POA, and living wills
15) Understanding notable legal trends through reading Kenneth Vercammen's newsletters
Fifteen things I learned at this internship, by an intern, Anjali Patel
1) The procedure for a will signing
2) How to answer phones
3) How to work on a client timesheet
4) How to send out faxes
5) How to make copies/photocopies
6) How to scan documents
7) How to do client filing
8) How to organize attorney notes and correspondences
9) How to do client intake and onboard potential clients
10) How to communicate with courts, attorneys, and external law clerks
11) How to make job postings on Symplicity and Handshake
12) What a power of attorney is
13) What a probate is
14) What an executor for a will is
15) The process and timeline of opening and resolving a case
